The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's four crime novels featuring star detective Sherlock Holmes. Published in 1902, it is set in the moor country of Western England, where Doyle had traveled with a good friend Fletcher "Bobbles" Robinson. His friend gave him a tour of some ruins and regaled him with the old creepy local legends of the area, which inspired this story. It tells the tale of the Baskervilles, a family who had been haunted for ages by a hell hound which has killed all of their descendants, one by one out in the moors at night. So when Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead one night, the hound is to blame. Enter Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

When nephew Sir Henry shows up from Canada to claim the family fortune, the mysterious plot thickens. Dr. James Mortimer, a family friend of the Baskervilles, enlists Holmes and Watson to solve the case of the hound, and to protect Sir Henry. Thinking something smells fishy, Holmes sends Watson out to hunt for clues with an entomologist friend named Stapleton and his hot sister Beryl. What plays out is classic Doyle: a story rich with suspense, elegant Victorian dialogue and fine period detail. It isn't a heavy read, yet Hound of the Baskervilles packs in plenty of action and excitement, perfect for a creepy and quiet night alone.